A 23-year-old man left for dead after a vicious assault outside a kebab shop has died.

Thomas Keaney was left fighting for his life after he was attacked outside the shop in Perth, Australia two weeks ago.

He was standing behind a taxi when he was punched on the side of the head at a busy night spot in the city.

That caused him to fall and hit his head off the kerb.

He was rushed to hospital and was put on life support as his family kept a bedside vigil for him.

A 22-year-old man, Abbas Al Jrood, appeared in the Perth Magistrates Court on Saturday morning to a face charge of grievous bodily harm over the incident.

Family friend Brendan Keogh said Thomas' family were called to Perth immediately on Christmas Eve.

Before Thomas passed away, he said the news was he was recovering well but added: "Tom’s parents Tommy and Ann were very happy about this but suddenly on Christmas Eve, they got a phone call that said that he had deteriorated and that they had to go immediately to Australia.

“So they couldn’t get a flight then on Christmas Day, and they had a flight for 7am on St Stephen’s Day to go to Perth.

“It’s shocking they are lovely, lovely people. It’s just a nightmare."